The 151st Open Championship - Day two digest

Everything you need to know from day two at the final Major Championship of 2023.

Home favourite Fleetwood continued to impress, Straka treated the crowds to a back-nine birdie bonanza and Harman opened up a big lead in the second round of The 151st Open Championship.

Here is everything you need to know from day two at the final Major Championship of 2023.

Harman builds commanding lead

A flawless second-round 65 from Brian Harman saw the American take an enormous five-shot lead into the weekend. Harman carded four birdies in a row from the second hole in the morning before following up 12 straight pars with a closing eagle to reach ten under par. He said: "I’ve had a hot putter the last couple of days so (will) try to ride it through the weekend. I’m delighted with how I’m playing. I’m just really focused on getting some rest and getting after it tomorrow."

Fleetwood drains a monster

After failing to make a birdie in his front-nine 36, local lad Tommy Fleetwood broke his duck with this stunning putt from nearly 60 feet at the tenth...

The Englishman went on to post a level-par 71 to sit five shots off the lead as Harman's nearest challenger.

Smyth makes memorable ace

Travis Smyth said it was "super cool" to bounce back from an opening-day "shocker" at the 17th with a stunning hole-in-one on Friday. The 28-year-old Australian had run up a double-bogey five at the tricky par three on Thursday but went four shots better with an awesome ace. "It was amazing," he said. "I had a shocker the day before, made double bogey. I was just really happy I hit a good shot because I was just so disappointed from the day before. It was a huge surprise that it went in the hole. It was just the perfect distance, perfect wind and the club. Everything just kind of came together, and it was a moment I’ll never forget. It’s super cool."

Southgate's big finish

Matthew Southgate said it was a "privilege" to be playing well at The Open after a chip-in eagle at the last sent him into the weekend on one under. After mixing three birdies with four bogeys in his first 17 holes on Friday, the Englishman holed his third shot from off the 18th green to sign for a second-round 70. He said: "It was quite unbelievable, to be honest. I couldn't believe it when I got there and the ball was between the two bunkers and not in the long rough - you couldn't go and place it in a better spot. As soon as I put the club behind the ball, I really fancied I could hole it, and just played it so perfectly. Dead weight, right in the middle, a lovely way to finish and go and relax for the afternoon."

McIlroy feels Claret Jug still within his reach

Rory McIlroy has not written off his chances of claiming a fifth Major title on Sunday afternoon despite rounds of 71 and 70 leaving him nine shots off the lead at the midway stage. "It depends what the conditions are tomorrow," said McIlroy. "Obviously it depends what Brian does, as well. Right now it's not quite out of my hands. I think if I can get to three, four, five under par tomorrow going into Sunday, I'll have a really good chance."

Straka's brilliant birdie blitz

Afternoon starter Sepp Straka enjoyed a fine finish to his second round, with the Austrian birdieing six of his last seven holes to sit third on four under par. After reeling off four straight birdies from the 12th, Straka bounced back from a bogey on the 16th with two closing birdies to sign for a superb 67. He said: "I played really nice. Gave myself a lot of birdie putts, which is key, and then the putter got hot on the back nine. Really couldn't have asked for more."